A Novel in Development
While I am knee-deep in edits for another series, I’ve had an idea for a fantasy novel (and maybe series) kicking around for probably close to a year now. I have lots of book ideas on the back burner, but this one keeps surfacing. I’ve been exploring it through vignettes, told in microfiction.
The first story, which was written as a one off, was called Witch. It was inspired by the image at the top of this post, and never meant to be more than just a single story.
“What do you see?”
Mordecai’s eyes, so much keener than mine, peered into the distance. Silence stretched so long I knew he looked with more than eyes.
“War,” his answer finally came. “Death and destruction.” His head swiveled around to face me. “This is not our way, Hila.”
My familiar, as always, counseled caution, knowing I would not heed it. Where people suffered, bled, and died, a witch must always go. To relieve such suffering was our creed, our code. Rising, I placed a weary foot on the path before me, knowing Mordecai would follow.
A friend of mine, author Christy Kimmerly, commented that this could become a book. This started my mind going, and I found Hila and Mordecai surfacing for prompt stories, as well as when I viewed other images. The next story I wrote was their meeting. I called it Owl.
Exhausted, Hila told herself she would find somewhere to camp soon. The moon was full, and though it peeked in and out of the clouds, provided enough light for safe travel.
As she topped another rise, she spotted an owl, perched atop a bare branch on yet another dead, leafless tree. Life could be no easier for it than for her, she thought, as she trudged past.
She froze, mid step, as a whistling voice queried, “Why?”
Spinning round, she searched for the source. Though the land offered little cover, she saw no one. She extended her senses, yet felt no presence, other than that of the owl. She looked up.
Again, the voice whistled, “Why come you here, Witch?” The owl cocked its head, regarding her with unblinking eyes.
“You are a familiar?” Hila countered. “Where is your companion?”
She swore the owl’s eyes twinkled in a smile. It said, “You are here.”
Hila withdrew into herself. She had no familiar, no companion. She traveled alone to serve those in need. Even now she rushed to tend those she sensed yet a day’s travel from here. War and famine ravaged the land. It was a witch’s duty to serve.
“Why come you here?” The owl repeated.
“To do as I must.” If the owl were truly a familiar, it would understand.
“And must you serve?” it asked.
Hila held her staff before her, let it spark, then burn, unconsumed by the fire. A sign of her sacred trust.
“Then I am yours. I have been waiting for you, Hila.”
It had named her. It had chosen. In that moment, Hila also knew its — no, his — name. “Mordecai! It is a hard road I travel. You do not want to fly with me.”
“I have chosen,” was the bird’s only reply as it flew from its branch to land on her shoulder. Though only an independent witch for a month and a day, Hila had been honored.
“What do you see?” she asked her new familiar.
“I see death,” he replied.
“As do I.” Rest could wait; the victims of war called them on.
This story was well received by readers and led to further exploration. I now have nine stories written in Hila and Mordecai’s world, as well as an increasing collection of notes on a novel which, I’m pretty sure will one day be written. Some of the stories contradict one another, but this is because they’re all part of an exploration.
How a novel starts for me is an interesting process. I’ve written before about where ideas come from. The magic comes in what happens after the idea plants itself in my mind. Always, there’s a scene, and the story grows around that scene. In this case, the idea sprang from the first story—kind of an odd beginning for me—which was never meant to be a book. The process, however, remained the same, with Owl being the scene that stemmed from it.
More on this next Sunday! Until then, please leave comments (the button for this is below). I’d love to hear from you!
I'm looking forward to their journey.
Definitely a book in the making. Excellent start.